Campbell said after major Storm partner Crown Resorts last year announced they were retreating from the sponsorship market and ending their seven-figure deal, his club had struggled to find a replacement.

De Belin’s barrister Martin Einfeld argued his client — who was charged in December — and the game’s tumultuous off-season had no effect on the Storm’s ability to attract a sponsor and they were already struggling in the market.

However Campbell said their sponsorship negotiations weren’t expected to wrap up until late 2018 or early 2019.

He said the club had negotiated with 15 to 20 companies, all of which fell through.

He said that early in the new year he was told by corporations that they didn’t want to be associated with the game.

“We had four companies tell us the risk of being associated with the NRL was too great,” Campbell said.

The club eventually in March signed real estate company Purple Bricks to a one-year deal to be their major sponsor.

The Storm were cost major sponsorship by player indiscretions.Source:News Corp Australia

Campbell told the court he had negotiations with Purple Bricks, La Trobe Financial, as well as minor sponsors Fuso Trucks and Tiger Air about becoming major sponsors.

He said the club was faced with taking $500,000 below market value for their front of jersey sponsorship.

Campbell said that since he had been involved with the club, they had experienced a significant financial upturn, however the code’s recent rash of bad behaviour had affected their ability to garner corporate support.

“In the six years I’ve been involved with the club we’ve had an increase of 73 per cent in sponsorship, crowds have increased 70 per cent, membership has increased 75 per cent, TV audiences have gone from 11 million to 19 million,” Campbell said.

Outside court Campbell said his stance was nothing personal against de Belin, he just wanted to protect the game.